An obsolete model from a decade and a half ago has suddenly become a best‑seller on Chinese online marketplaces. The iPhone 4S — launched in 2011 and long out of Apple’s official support cycle — has reportedly accumulated more than 100,000 orders in roughly 30 days on platforms such as Pinduoduo, with some listings advertising units for as little as ¥55 (about $7–8).
The spike has been driven by ultra‑low pricing, promotional pushes and the peculiar economics of China’s second‑hand and refurbished electronics market. Pinduoduo, known for catering to price‑sensitive and lower‑tier consumers through group deals and steep discounts, has become a major conduit for deeply discounted legacy devices, while other sellers offer refurbished stocks, recycled components or imported grey‑market units.
To an international reader, the numbers are striking not because the 4S is technologically competitive but because they reveal an active, high‑volume demand for marginal, low‑cost connectivity. Many buyers in China — especially in smaller cities and rural areas — still need basic smartphones for messaging, payments and simple apps; a cheap legacy iPhone often suffices, especially when coupled with attractive payment or bargain models.
The phenomenon also raises familiar questions about product authenticity and consumer protection. At prices far below replacement‑cost, listings can include a wide range of goods: refurbished handsets, devices rebuilt from spare parts, factory seconds, clones that mimic Apple’s design, or simply marketing that mislabels condition and capability. That complexity leaves room for disputes over warranty, safety and data integrity.
For Apple, the burst of sales in the ultra‑low end is ambiguous. It underscores persistent demand for iOS hardware in China’s vast market, yet it does little for the company’s premium revenue model or brand positioning. At the same time, the surge highlights the buoyancy of a parallel ecosystem — refurbishers, grey‑market traders and discount platforms — that can capture price‑sensitive customers Apple does not reach with its new devices.
Beyond corporate strategy, the trend has regulatory and environmental angles. Chinese authorities have been tightening consumer‑protection and e‑commerce rules in recent years; if large volumes of counterfeit or unsafe devices are confirmed, platforms may face scrutiny or enforcement. Meanwhile, the rebound of old devices into circulation can either reduce e‑waste via reuse or, if poorly recycled, shift environmental costs to informal repair networks.
Ultimately, the iPhone 4S surge is a small story with larger implications: it is a reminder that in a market as large and segmented as China’s, price and access often trump novelty. For policymakers, brands and investors, such episodes are signals about where growth still exists, where regulatory risk accumulates, and how technological lifecycles intersect with inequality and sustainability.